Accounting

Happy New Year + Systems Overview

By | March 31, 2015

With the new financial year upon us, there are the usual pieces of information that we need at 31 March for standard balance date businesses. Please see further details below. The end of a financial year/start of a new one is the perfect time to review the systems that you use in your business! We are massive fans at Cloud Accountants of using technology to not only create efficiencies in your businesses, but to provide the necessary tools for you to grow your businesses. Now is the time to... Read more

Xero Annual Meeting 23 July 2014 – Questions?

By | July 3, 2014

Xero’s annual meeting will be held at 4pm on 23 July in Wellington. I cannot attend this year and there does not appear to be an Auckland repeat, so I thought it would be an idea to put together some questions that I would put to the board of Xero. (and maybe, just maybe obtain some responses from Rod either at the AGM or prior 🙂 ) Competition is heating up in the online accounting space both locally and globally. How does Xero, both now and in the future, differentiate itself from... Read more

Who holds your Xero subscription? It’s your call.

By | May 9, 2014

Wow, the last couple of weeks have certainly caused a stir around client data ownership, Xero subscriptions and who holds them.   At Cloud Accountants we have made the decision to give our clients (both existing and future) the choice of whether they hold their Xero subscriptions or if we do. We believe this is the right thing to do. Yes we do receive a discount for being a gold partner with Xero, that we pass directly onto our clients as a part of our agreed monthly fees. But we do... Read more

Happy New Year + Xero Files!

By | March 27, 2014

With the new financial year literally just around the corner, there are the usual pieces of information that we need as ‘bean counters’ at 31 March for standard balance date businesses. This year end we are encouraging our clients to use Xero Files for uploading these important documents. Files for Xero is another game changer with Xero and again will improve the efficiencies with preparing year end financial statements and tax returns for us at Cloud Accountants and you. We recommend... Read more

Cardigans & Comb Overs

By | June 15, 2012

When Hamish Edwards (Xero co-founder) recently tweeted that he was looking for an accountant, and that ‘if you wear a brown cardigan or have a comb over you need not apply’, it got me thinking. In 2012, what does an accountant look like? Are there still the pin stripe suits and ties? Or has it gone as far as jeans and t-shirts? For me, it is not so much about the appearance but the following: Having a positive attitude and Passion! Being straight up and honest (the truth... Read more

Cloud Accountants, Bookkeepers & 100% Xero

By | February 23, 2012

There has been a lot of talk on LinkedIn and other forums around the use of bookkeepers with accountants, when the businesses are using an online accounting system such as Xero. I believe that it is a misconception that bookkeepers will become redundant, if a business was to move to Xero. At Cloud Accountants we are a 100% Xero practice. We use bookkeepers (we call them Xero Consultants!) with many of our clients, and they (the Clients) tend to fit into one of the following groups: ‘We... Read more

Xero Conference 2012

By | February 13, 2012

I attended my second Xero conference a couple of Friday’s ago, and it did not disappoint with the offering of a taste of things to come, and plenty to be excited about for Cloud Accountants. What I enjoy the most about Xerocon is the chance to not only hear about what is on the horizon with the system and add-on’s, but to rub shoulders with like minded accountants that are using technology to provide a better and smarter service to our existing and potential clients. It was a surprise... Read more

Transparency

By | September 6, 2010

Transparency, along with working smarter/being more efficient in your business (see our last Blog here), is another key aspect of doing business with Cloud Accountants. There are 2 parts to this: Transparency when it comes to your financials Transparency when it comes to your accountant Financials Do you know how your business is performing right now? In real time? The technology is available now for you to keep a constant eye on how you are going. And now, not in 3 or 6 months time... Read more

What do you do with your weekends & weeknights?

By | August 18, 2010

Over the next few weeks I will give some insight into how Cloud Accountants operate with their clients, and how technology and systems, can change the way, you too, can run your business for the better. I hope you enjoy! So what do you do? It may sound like a personal question….and maybe it is! Do you relax by playing/watching sport? Spend time with the kids? Maybe DIY is your thing? Read or go to the movies? These are the activities that you should be involved in, doing the things... Read more